‘How I Met Your Mother’ Season 9 Spoilers: Series Finale Air Date Released; Why Will The Show End Early?

It’s time to suit up! “How I Met Your Mother” fans knew that the end was close for the long-running CBS sitcom, but now a date for the series finale is set. So, when does Ted Mosby’s love story come to an end? On Monday, March 31.

The news may be heartbreaking, especially since viewers weren’t expecting to say goodbye to the gang so early. With most TV series ending their seasons around late April/mid-May, many viewers are wondering about the quickly approaching series finale date. Fortunately co-creators Craig Thomas and Carter Bays were able to clear up some of the confusion.

“Mark it on your calendars,” Craig Thomas tweeted of the series finale air date. “It’s a change – but fewer repeats, promotion during March Madness, and we get to do our finale not up against other finales … upsides!”

Thomas’ words were echoed by Carter Bays, who posted that the March finale “is a very good thing” for the series. “More momentum, fewer reruns,” Bays explained. “Thank you, CBS.”

Although it may not seem like a "very good thing" right now, "How I Met Your Mother" fans can find comfort in the fact that the creators plan on giving a legen -- wait for it -- dary send-off that viewers will remember with a special hourlong episode.

As “How I Met Your Mother” makes its grand exit, CBS will be introducing a new comedy for the soon-to-be-open slot on the Monday night lineup – “Friends With Better Lives.” With an ensemble cast starring James Van Der Beek (“Dawson’s Creek”), Kevin Connolly (“Entourage”), Brooklyn Decker (“What To Expect When You’re Expecting”), Majandra Delfino (“Roswell”) and Zoe Lister-Jones (“Whitney”), the new sitcom will bring the laughs with its premiere on March 31 at 9 p.m. The following week, Monday, April 7, “Friends With Better Lives” will move to its permanent time slot at 8:30 p.m., with “2 Broke Girls” transitioning to a permanent time-slot change at 8 p.m., starting April 14.

Are you ready for the end of “How I Met Your Mother”? Are you willing to give “Friends With Better Lives” a chance? Let us know in the comments section or send a tweet to @AmandaTVScoop.